Toulouse held by Guingamp

Toulouse and Guingamp shared the points as the goalless scoreline failed to do justice to an entertaining clash.

Last Updated: 21/12/13 9:41pm

Toulouse and Guingamp shared the points as the goalless scoreline failed to do justice to an entertaining Ligue 1 clash.

The hosts were the better side and twice hit the woodwork, while Guingamp keeper Guy N'Dy Assembe was in inspired form.

But Guingamp had chances of their own, with Steeven Langil hitting a post late in the first half.

Indeed, the visitors were first to threaten when Lionel Mathis set up Mustapha Yatabare and he beat Aymen Abdennour before sending in a right-foot shot which tested keeper Ali Ahamada.

Toulouse swiftly responded as Wissam Ben Yedder teed up Adrien Regattin, whose shot flashed only just high and wide of the near post.

In what was to become a theme, the frame of the goal saw its first action in the 16th minute when Abel Aguilar and Dorian Leveque combined to set up Martin Braithwaite, who hammered a fine right-foot shot against the crossbar.

Christopher Aurier's misdirected cross almost deceived N'Dy Assembe, who had to tip the ball away to prevent a goal.

But Guingamp could easily have gone into half-time a goal to the good, with Langil's powerful shot leaving Ahamada helpless as it rebounded to safety off the left-hand post.

By full-time, though, they were grateful for one point as Toulouse took control of the second period.

N'Dy Assembe blocked Regattin's close-range effort after good work by Etienne Didot before Toulouse hit the woodwork for the second time.

Didot again set up Regattin, with the same result as his previous chance, but when the ball rebounded off the keeper Ben Yedder hammered the ball against the same post which had earlier denied Langil.

Regattin tried his luck once more from 25 yards, but again N'Dy Assembe was equal to the shot.

And the Cameroonian had one more vital piece of brilliance in reserve as, with six minutes remaining, Regattin turned provider for Issiaga Sylla but his header was blocked on the line by N'Dy Assembe.